Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

Friday, December 07, 2007

BC Legislature Raid case may never happen or be further postponed, says veteran lawyer

Basi-Virk trial might be delayed, says lawyer

By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURSNOTE TO READERS - this is a short variation of the blog item below.Three provincial government aides charged in the B.C. legislature raid case could have their trial delayed or even thrown out due to a legally complex secret pre-trial hearing held yesterday in B.C. Supreme Court, says a prominent media lawyer.

Roger McConchie, representing CTV, the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Press at the hearing, said outside court that legal wrangling over the Crown's application to have a judge hear from a police informant in secret could delay the March 2008 trial date or even put it off forever.

Special Prosecutor Janet Winteringham asked Justice Elizabeth Bennett to grant a Section 37 certificate under the Canada Evidence Act to grant "informer privilege" for a secret witness. The certificate would exclude media, the public and even defense lawyers from the court. Lawyers for David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi, the three aides facing charges connected to the $1-billion privatization of B.C. Rail, opposed the application in a hearing closed to media and the public that is expected to continue today.

"If the certificate is sustained, counsel for the accused can apply to the Appeal Court. My guess would be if that happens, the March trial date would be delayed," McConchie told 24 hours.

But McConchie also said that if a defence appeal is filed: "It's anyone's guess if this is ever going to go to trial."

McConchie described the case as like a Matryoshka Russian nesting doll. "It is a truly nested doll hearing - I've never seen one before. How far down is this series of nested doll in-camera hearings [are we] going to go?" McConchie asked.

6 comments:

Marcus
said...

Why havn't we heard about this on BCTV or CTV or the CBC? Everyone (in the world of major corporate media) seemed to be glued to the "issue" when G. Clark was having a deck built, why not now, given this issue involves billions of dollars and the sale of a major public asset. It makes me think that they're either in league - or sympathetic with - the dear folk that raided your office.

If I was a journalist working for CanWest Global or the CBC I'd be feeling pretty whipped.

The big question is what does Waffling Wally have to say about this? And Gordo? Is someone trying to interfere in this trial? Did you know there's another Basi in the FOI office? Aren't these folks all related? Besides Kim Bolan says in her book that $$ are paid in cash to certain politicians?

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.